United, who face City on April 8 at Old Trafford, are 12 points clear at the top of the table with 12 games remaining and can extend that lead when they face Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Saturday.

Ferguson said: “I can understand from Manchester City’s point of view why they are talking about us dropping points. But the fact of the matter is they will drop them as well.

“The only way we can approach it is by taking care of each game and eventually we run out of matches.”